...
Silence lingered in the pavilion for a long time.
Xuan Hao rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache, and finally couldn't help but ask, "What's the point of all this convoluted logic?"
"Of course it makes sense."
Qian Renxue picked up her teacup and gently blew away the floating petals.
"Now that we've laid everything out, and we both know that our biggest problem is that our underlying logic is incompatible, and our understanding of emotions and power is completely diametrically opposed.
Now that we've found the root of the problem, things are simple."
"Simple?!"
Xuan Hao was so angry at her words that he almost rolled his eyes. "If the underlying logic is different, then our values are completely incompatible!
This is the most fatal and unsolvable deadlock, okay?
The fact that we didn't immediately draw our knives and start fighting is already a testament to our good temper.
You call this simple?"
Qian Renxue put down her teacup, looked at him intently, and asked in return, "Have you ever thought about why we haven't actually fought?"
Before Xuanhao could answer, she gave her own answer:
"Because deep down, you actually want me to understand you; and I, too, long for you to understand me."
"Since both sides are willing," Qian Renxue slightly raised her chin, tossing down her bargaining chip, "now, in order to break this deadlock, I can try to understand your unorthodox survival rules, and I can make huge concessions for you.
In exchange… shouldn't you also try to understand me and make corresponding concessions?"
Xuan Hao was completely confused and looked at her suspiciously:
"You mean understanding?
Making concessions?
How do you plan to make concessions?"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath and said, word by word, "I can tolerate the presence of those young girls around you."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Qian Renxue raised her hand to stop him, and continued, "But! Don't expect me to play any kind of close sisterhood games with them.
In my logic, I can only be the high and mighty 'Empress,' and they are nothing more than 'concubines' who depend on you."
"I can allow you to be a womanizer, and I can allow you to go out with those young girls.
However, you must restrain yourself from being a womanizer, and you absolutely cannot challenge my bottom line as the rightful wife!
If it is a woman I don't like, or a woman I absolutely refuse to accept, you absolutely cannot bring her in!"
"Holy crap..."
Xuan Hao was utterly speechless after hearing this "declaration of concession" filled with feudal imperial ideology.
He looked at Qian Renxue as if she were a monster:
"Are you out of your mind?
I'm living a free and easy life on my own.
Why would I want to find myself an 'empress' to worship and control me every day?"
"Don't refuse a polite toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
Qian Renxue's face turned cold, her tone revealing an undeniable firmness, "Xuan Hao, you know very well what kind of person I am. You also know that I don't mind using any unscrupulous means to achieve my goals.
In fact, in the past, I might have hesitated and made various excuses because of the face of the Angel Family, or because of that so-called 'girl's modesty'."
"But after today, I won't!"
Qian Renxue stared intently at him, a dangerous glint in her eyes:
"If you don't want to make things chaotic and cause trouble for everyone, then you'd better accept my conditions!"
"Otherwise, we might as well part ways!
If I, Qian Renxue, can't have it, Ning Rongrong and the others shouldn't expect to get it peacefully either!
If I'm not happy, none of you will have a good life!"
Xuan Hao's lips twitched twice:
"Big sister, this isn't a concession, you're just blatantly threatening me again."
"Think what you want."
Qian Renxue remained unyielding.
"Threats or negotiations, my bottom line has been reached.
If you still want to resolve this peacefully, then readily agree to my conditions!"
Xuan Hao leaned back in his chair, feeling somewhat helpless.
Looking at the woman in front of him, who was so obsessed that she was almost insane, he asked in utter bewilderment, "I really don't understand.
What kind of man can't you have?
Why are you so fixated on me?"
Because I want to!
Qian Renxue raised her head and answered confidently, "Don't give me any nonsense reasons or analyze the pros and cons.
I just want to keep an eye on you, that's enough!"
"..."
Faced with this absolute subjective will that can be described as thuggish, Xuan Hao, despite having a thousand kinds of logic, felt a deep sense of powerlessness at this moment and was completely unable to refute it.
"In short, can you accept this?" Qian Renxue pressed on relentlessly.
"Can I refuse?" Xuan Hao looked utterly hopeless.
"Sure, of course." Qian Renxue smiled slightly, but the smile was somewhat eerie.
"However, after you refuse, I can't guarantee whether the harmonious atmosphere around you with these beautiful women can be maintained, or how long it can be maintained."
"Fine, fine, you win."
Xuan Hao raised his hands in surrender and sighed helplessly, "I agree, is that alright?"
"Good that you agreed."
A glint of victory flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes, and her tone softened.
"Now that we've reached a consensus, let's continue discussing the specific conditions."
"Tell me clearly, how many women are you involved with right now?
Don't leave out a single name!
If you miss any of them today, and they reappear later, I'll treat them as if they don't exist.
Don't blame me for being ruthless then!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao immediately felt a toothache, and his face almost scrunched up like a bun.
He hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and began to list the details on his fingers:
"Is there even a question?
Na'er is my bottom line, no need to say more.
As for Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, everyone knows the truth, there's nothing to hide.
As for Ning Rongrong... well, that goes without saying."
"Continue." Qian Renxue said coldly, tapping her fingers lightly on the stone table.
"And then there's Xiao Wu, who just arrived."
Xuan Hao sighed. "Her situation is actually similar to Na'er's; there's nothing to say about her either.
As for that girl Zhu Zhuqing… I'm not lying to you, there's a high chance she won't be able to escape in the future."
"Besides these people who are now constantly around you, who else is there?" Qian Renxue pressed.
Xuan Hao hesitated for a moment, then said in a desperate tone, "Besides...
Hu Liena, you know her too, she was arguably the earliest one. Finally..."
Xuan Hao's voice trailed off, his eyes darting around: "Finally... your mother, Bibi Dong, actually counts too. Although it's really difficult to win her over."
"Bang!"
Qian Renxue slammed her hand on the table, her expression almost faltering, even the disguise of Xue Qinghe mask distorted slightly due to the intense emotional turmoil.
She was aware of and prepared for the situation with those young girls mentioned earlier, even Hu Liena.
But!
That bastard actually admitted to his illicit feelings for that woman right in front of her!
Qian Renxue took several deep breaths before she could forcefully suppress the urge to overturn the table and kill someone.
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to calm down:
"Fine! Very well! I won't say anything about what you've said, including that woman...
After all, you two already have such a complicated relationship.
If I forcefully separate you now, it will only exacerbate our conflict and won't solve any real problems."
"However!" Qian Renxue's tone shifted abruptly, becoming extremely stern.
"From today onwards, there will be absolutely no more!"
"Even if you can't control yourself outside in the future and fall for someone, you must get my permission first!"
"What the hell? What do you mean by 'getting your permission'?"
Xuan Hao immediately objected, protesting with a speechless expression, "What if you absolutely refuse to allow it?
Am I supposed to just hold back like this? Besides, relationships aren't like buying cabbage at the market, where you have to pick and choose with a list! Who knows, I might suddenly fall in love at first sight with someone on the street, like two peas in a pod?"
"you...!"
Qian Renxue was furious at his robber logic and slammed her hand on the table in anger:
"Then you can't keep flirting with every girl you meet, can you?!"
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